CEP1 — Asparagus officinalis

Summary

A4U43_C09F16750 (CEP1) in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) on chromosome 9 encodes a papain-like cysteine peptidase with thiol endopeptidase activity. It is associated with programmed cell death in cell development, floral organ senescence, anther wall tapetum development, and proteolysis. The gene is linked to responses to nutrient levels, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), and hormones (cytokinin, gibberellin, ethylene, auxin, brassinosteroid), as well as UV-B, defence response to fungi, and NO storage. It localises to senescence-associated vacuoles, protein storage vacuoles, the ER lumen, and plant-type vacuoles. Associations include leaf senescence, seed yield, drought tolerance, stomatal closure, nitrogen remobilization, pollen development and fertility, root and shoot growth, and insect resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to developmental senescence, powdery mildew resistance, cadmium-induced programmed cell death, and saccharification efficiency.